The low-scoring continued as neither team managed to score more than 18 points in the 2nd half.
Northern Iowa pulled out to a 15 point lead midway through the 2nd half but then failed to score a field goal in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Evansville then slowly chipped away at the lead and closed to within 2 points (43-41) with under 2 minutes. But then Evansville went cold, and UNI made several free throws in the final couple minutes to hold on for the 47-41 win-http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...meId=400989739

Evansville's Ryan Taylor had 26 points, but the other 4 starters combined only totalled 6 points, and they only got 9 points from their bench.
UNI only shot 27.8% for the game, and Hunter Rhodes was their leading scorer with 12 points. They were just 5-22 from three.
UNI got 31 of their 47 points from their 3 senior starters, and they only got 16 points on 4-25 shooting from everyone else. UNI could be in trouble again next year when Koch, Carlson, and Rhodes are gone. They really are hurting for shooters and playmakers and don't have much offense returning next year.

It definitely was not a good advertisement for exciting play in the MVC. The announcers did a pretty good job of hyping the MVC and the two programs, and trying to make the game seem more interesting, but there was only so much they could do.

One other interesting stat- UNI was 12-19 on free throws, but Evansville did not attemp a single free throw in the game.
And one unusual stat- neither team had a single fast break point.

Evansville losing is certainly a big help to keep us out of Thursday at Arch Madness. Looking more and more like we'll be battling ISU Blue for 6th so it sure would be nice if the Sycamores lose at Drake tonight and then when we beat the Redbirds we'll have a 2 game lead on both Evansville and ISU Blue with 3 to go. GO BU!

Evansville losing is certainly a big help to keep us out of Thursday at Arch Madness. Looking more and more like we'll be battling ISU Blue for 6th so it sure would be nice if the Sycamores lose at Drake tonight and then when we beat the Redbirds we'll have a 2 game lead on both Evansville and ISU Blue with 3 to go. GO BU!

That would be fantastic! If that happens, I think we'll all feel pretty good about avoiding Thursday night.

That would be fantastic! If that happens, I think we'll all feel pretty good about avoiding Thursday night.

Though like most fans, I was hoping for more than just escaping the Thursday games, it would still be slight progress.
Although replacing Wichita State with a last place Valparaiso would have pushed Bradley up a notch and kept them out of the Thursday games last year, so just barely staying above the 7th seed isn't very much of an improvement.

Though like most fans, I was hoping for more than just escaping the Thursday games, it would still be slight progress.
Although replacing Wichita State with a last place Valparaiso would have pushed Bradley up a notch and kept them out of the Thursday games last year, so just barely staying above the 7th seed isn't very much of an improvement.

While a slim chance, still a shot at finishing 4/5. But we'd certainly have to finish 3-1 or 4-0 which I don't think anyone here would expect. Especially after how poorly we've played recently. I would be pretty happy with that personally. I have to continue to remind myself how bad we actually were two years ago. I can't remember the last time we sniffed an RPI around 100.

Here are the previous years' RPI's, and it is pretty clear that the previous administration's overhaul of the basketyball program which started with the firing of the assistant coaches in 2010 is what lead to the downfall of the basketball program these last 7 years. The RPIs were not too bad during the Jim Les years.

Here are the previous years' RPI's, and it is pretty clear that the previous administration's overhaul of the basketyball program which started with the firing of the assistant coaches in 2010 is what lead to the downfall of the basketball program these last 7 years. The RPIs were not too bad during the Jim Les years.